Louis Theroux: Hypnotists

Louis travels to Vegas to meet some of the leader's in the field of hypnotic self-improvement.

He signs up for a course with Marshall Sylver a hypnotist who seems to have a great deal in common with the likes of Jimmy Swaggart - he claims he can make you into a millionaire but when Louis asks to meet his successful clients things take a different turn.

Louis also hooks up with Ross Jeffries who's almost a clone of T. J. Mackey from Magnolia only creepier. He uses hypnosis to make members of the opposite sex feel more attracted to him but for some unknown reason Louis also starts to find him strangely attractive...

Another eye-opening inside look at an industry that seems determinedly unattractive after Louis has finished with it but also features some of the Louis' most cringe-worthy moments of the entire series...

Louis does not get the philosophy because he doesn't want to get the philosophy. If you can chose to be happy or sad, why not chose to be happy? If you can chose a successful attitude, why not chose it? Those who are successful have certain attitudes. Why not model those attitudes so you can be successful?

It's just part of his personality. It works really well in interviewing since its very disarming. He forces himself outside of his comfort zone on so many episodes. He's rapped on a radio show. Raced in a destruction derby. He's interviewed members of the nazi party and almost got assaulted because he didn't want to say if he was or wasn't jewish, he's not, but he thought that declaring himself one way or the other was irrelevant and would come across as if he approved of anti-semite views by declaring himself not a jew. By doing that he also exposed the skinheads violent nature.

Alexandrea
- 10/01/2010 at 17:59

Ughh, the dating guy is clearly a creep. I would slap him with my purse; talking about my "incredible energy blah, blah, blah..." Boo. He is a desperate & pathetic man who makes himself feel better by using "mind control" techniques to manipulate women.

I enjoy how Sylver's assistant said "I had the dubious honor of becoming a mentor in the Millionaire Mentor Program..." Firstly, why would someone want to to be mentored to become a millionaire by someone who was not, themselves, a millionaire? Secondly, and even more humorous .. he had the DUBIOUS honor? Clearly he has no idea what the word dubious means ... unless it was just some kind of parapraxis regarding how he really feels about his employer? In any case, hilarious!

as a woman, I felt very angry, that so many women have so little dignity and self-esteem, that they allow strangers to pick them up in the street. Are they really so stupid not to know, that they are just abused as prey in the bed of predators?

Mesmerism is not good or evil. Just a tool. But when it works well for long enough, a saint would be tempted to test the waters. After that it's a slippery slope.

Sylver is obviously a conman, and gives some of his marks hope, but only so they trust him with their money. But I can't deny he's very talented. He probably helped some people immensely early on.

Also, Mike, there is a big difference between being skeptical and aggressively opposed to an idea or ideal. The latter makes for terrible journalism, and stifles learning. Louis' approach is actually much more "standard" and fundamental than the type of thing you see on most North American cable, the "us vs them" slop. I hope he never changes.

I love this guys attitude towards these subjects. You can tell he IS skeptical but doesn't want to make it into such a big deal that he wont get the interviews. Wish this would have been a bit longer and showed a more skeptical point of view, but still a great doc!!!!!

I find this immensely interesting, I agree with the poster who says he wishes it were longer.

-The guy who went up to the ladies at the cafe is named Ross Jefferies and he is basically the person who is credited with compiling the first comprehensive set seduction techniques and bringing it forth to the mainstream. Every single professional male pickup artist, or dating coach ascribes to some theory discovered by Ross Jefferies. What is so amazing about it is that it is real and it works!

Think about it, anyone looking at Ross Jefferies realizes he is a bit of a creepy looking guy, yet he was able within minutes to get the phone number of a women he did not know and have her fall head over heals for him and agree with his every word.

-As for people I feel sorry for, it is for mr. sylvers assissant who I suspect is in some sort of homosexual relationship with Mr. sylver because he thinks he will be a millionaire soon.
-I don't feel sorry for those business people watching or paying for mr. sylver because this stuff actually works (think about it, a creepy guy like ross jefferies can get women to give him there phone number using like minded techiniques you don't think you can use the same technique to sell garbage to people?).
-I do agree with Louis that the techniques used by the likes of ross jefferies allow you to pick up women so easily that it is almost laughable, it feels wrong that it should be that easy to be honest which is why I stopped doing it. Come on, just think about it, when I was able to pick up like 7 hot girls and see everyone else watching it just got strange
-I also believe sylver helps people build self esteem and belief in themself, and that is something a psychologist would charge you far more than $500-$5000 for.

I felt really sorry for all those poor people being sucked in, to spend thier hard earned cash on some thing that will never happen, as allway's Louis was brilliant at trying to expose these nut jobs who are just fleecing foks for thier money. The only millionier I saw was Mr Sylver but what a smooth talker, I could see how if you has low self esteem you could fall for this, but once again a good docu you can tell yourself every day that you are a good person and confident it work's for me and it's free.

If you want to kick back and relax, a hypnosis tape can be calming and enjoyable for some people. On the other hand, it is not magical, it will not make you richer, more confident, or more successful, and you can't subliminally program yourself to become a millionaire. The hypnotists in this video are all charlatans, performance artists, and/or really creepy.

Is it pseudo-scientific nonsense? Oh yeah. It can occasionally be relaxing, but it is certainly not worth spending money on.

HAH! This was an excellent documentary. I felt robbed at the end because it finished way too fast! However, there's much to learn here. Hopefully, as more watch, they increase their ability to discern and dispel maneuvers of hyper-suggestibility. Great share, Vlatko. =)

Hypnosis or in this case manipulation training by manipulating the participants. Louis nailed it when he asked, that if teaching any person willing to pay the fee, in how to manipulate people is amoral and could be very dangerous. IMO you see it best with the correct guy. Self proclaimed wolf that thinks he has all the answers but alone the sheep fo Sylver... Very entertaining ********

This documentary was very entertaining. I laughed out loud several times. My only disappointment was Louis didn't talk about the various techniques these people actually use - even the obvious element of peer pressure. I was really hoping that would be discussed and then bam, it ended. Doh.